(Newser)
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Arne Duncan isn’t quite the miracle worker Barack Obama made him out to be, according to a new study from a Chicago civic group. When Obama introduced his nominee for education secretary, he boasted that Duncan had boosted elementary school test results “From 38% of students meeting the standards to 67%” as head of Chicago’s public schools. But after adjusting for changes in test scoring and procedures, the rate actually grew a mere 8%, the study found.

That’s because, like many states, Illinois has lowered passing scores in response to No Child Left Behind. Obama also claimed that Chicago’s dropout rate dropped throughout Duncan’s tenure, and that Chicago’s ACT score gains were double the rest of the state. Both are technically true, but Chicago’s non-selective-enrollment schools still have a dropout rate of 50%, and scores remain below the rest of the state.

Why would anyone thumb down this contribution without offering at least a brief explanatory comment? Such people are the ultimate "trolls."

kokuaguy

Jul 15, 2009 4:41 AM CDT

I asked a question something like yours once and one of our newser friends suggested: http://www.justfuckinggoogleit... I think the suggestion was good natured and I've always been grateful for it. Though I used it regularly before, google has become almost habitual for me lately. Please google it (just use NCLB) p3, and read up on it using the link to Wikipedia. There are those here who are very suspicious/scornful of the people's free online encyclopedia, but for purposes of getting background there is nothing better.

kokuaguy

Jul 15, 2009 4:28 AM CDT

I am a supporter of the Kamehameha Schools (named after the king who brought the main islands under his control with the help of Western war technology in the early 1800s.) Members of my family have graduated from "Kam" School, which was considered inferior to other private schools until the 1960s, partly because its curriculum concentrated on vocational education along with preservation of Hawaiian culture, especially music. It is a large private religious school like most others that is funded substantially with income from the lands donated by the royalty not long before the overthrow of the monarchy and US annexation in the 1890s. All other "Crown Lands" were taken by the US government, and most were transferred to the state government in 1959. Students must be part Hawaiian to attend, though no particular blood quantum is required, and ethnic diversity of the students is as great as everywhere else in the islands. Only a small fraction of those eligible are able to attend, and competition is fierce. In the past it was generally understood that admission policies were elitist, and though test scores largely determine who gets in today, nevertheless the perception persists. The quality of education available there is high, and comparable to Punahou School, President Obama's alma mater (also private)-- but the tuition at Kamehameha is far less, and fully subsidized for the poor who are enrolled. In my little off the cuff comment above I did not express an opinion about private schools, though I think public education is generally preferable from a policy point of view. Unfortunately public schools here are poorly funded as in many places. I appreciate your interest godawgs. I am very proud to be a citizen of the state, and I have lived here nearly 40 years, though I am not a native.